156 ANGLING SKETCHES 



quite out of my mind ; the day was exhilarating 

 one of those true fishing-days when you feel the 

 presence of the sun without seeing him. Still, I 

 looked rather cautiously over the edge of the slope 

 above the loch, and, by Jove ! there he was, fishing 

 the near side, and wading deep among the reeds ! 

 I did not stalk him this time, but set off running 

 down the hillside behind him, as quickly as my 

 basket, with its load of waders and boots, would 

 permit. I was within forty yards of him, when he 

 gave a wild stagger, tried to recover himself, 

 failed, and, this time, disappeared in a perfectly 

 legitimate and accountable manner. The 

 treacherous peaty bottom had given way, and 

 his floating hat, with a splash on the surface, and 

 a few black bubbles, were all that testified to his 

 existence. There was a broken old paling hard 

 by ; I tore off a long plank, waded in as near as 

 I dared, and, by help of the plank, after a good 

 deal of slipping, which involved an exemplary 

 drenching, I succeeded in getting him on to dry 

 land. He was a distressing spectacle his body 

 and face all blackened with the slimy peat-mud ; 



